Method of plant culture



f Na-Eltsine PATENT OFFICE i '29 plant by lutilizationfot' the sleevebr Wrapper Wise usual oivpracticable, `the proportional te Patented Feb. 24, `1931 i 1,793,877 i fALiinnfrA HnNRYlreaLnroN, 'or iroNoLULu, 'rnmairoRY OFHAWAII iyimnon on PLANT CULTURE 7 i imputation inea iaiyis, 1927. semi `nu 206,584;

This invention relates itc` methods of, en- Fig. 4l depicts a pineapple plantfin its usual liancing the rgrowtli, and productivity of planting' position; and pineappleiandotlier.cultivated l plants, by Fig. 5 l.illustrates the positioning` ota means of: encasement `of the plant stock ina Wrapped plant. y p t, i 5 sleevefor wrapperandiinbedding theisaine l The invention consists of the cncascinent 55 iiiathesoil deeper ltlianwthe `plantingdepth of `the stock of an infant plant, whether otherwise usual or practicable, all:isliei'ei1i-` in Jthe forni of suckers, slips, stems, stalks, below describedandhasfor its objects: crowns or cuttings, ina sleeve, sheath or 1(1) Theproduction of a deeper, `usual or` wrapper of any suitablematerial, preferably 10 natural;i'ootsyeteni ontheplant stock, by paper,` of `any desiredtliicltness,texture or J0 deeperplanting` tlianxis otherwise Vusual `or composition, and preferably moreor .lesssot practicable; 1 c and absorbent in character, ins-uch manner `(2) `The :productionnof an: additional sysas to expose at the lower end onlythe usual teni cntlie plant stock, lbyl inducing the rooting area of the plant stock and so as to 15 ,gtifowth'fof additional oraladventitious roots expose the `upper portion of the plant stock V5 ontlie soil-imbedded portion of tliepiant above the Wrapper, substantially `as shown p stocliinwtlie sleeve or` vvrapperfabove the byllig. 3 of the accompanying drawing, `and usual `rootingarea; a i i then planting the sheathed plant stock` sev-` `Tha 'Stimulation and protegtj0n1-p0f the eral inches deeper `in the soilthan is other`- for thezrceptionandretention, by `mpregincrease of planting,l depth depending'upon nation `or deposit,of fertilizers, insecticides the character and size of the plant, preferand un'gicides, in close proximity "to the ably leaving the upper `portion of the sleeve plant; y 1` f 0r Wrapper projecting above the surface `of (4')`}Thelprotectionxof the plantfrom in* the ground. 1 y p 75 jury by the application of fertilizers," insecti- The plant Wrapper` may be used in a `fixed cides, fungicides or` soil-correcting formulae form, as a sleeve, decapitated cone or sheath, to the surroundiiig soilof such `strength as held in shape by pasting or otlierwisei'astenwould finjure the plant by' directhcontact ing the outer overlapping edge,or by a binder therewith; i n n I, or flap pasted or otherwise temporarily 'las H0 i The .protectionoftheplant troni actened around` the sheath or across theouter c'retiveinvasion ofwind or Water driven soil, edge, or it may be merely `wral'il'ied around and protect-loiret the root system from ex theplant and held in the covering position pogure fhoujgh the .removal 0l? Soil by` the until inserted in and surrounded by the soil. erosive eli'ectot' Wind or water; i Q- 1 The Wrapper niay be el any desired `size 85 Theprotectionof"tlieroot system of 01' shape, and be Of any desired material, the plant from the deterrent effects of Weeds preferably paper, as long as it'pserves thepur.- during the tender`stages` of development; P0516, after th? etlg in SOll 0f lill@ Plant (7) The stimulation ofthe plant byutilistock, of providing a snugr contact with the zationof the sleeve `or Wrapper as a conservaplant stock sufficient to screen from sunlight 90 tor of moisture; p thatportion of the plantlstoclc on which the (8)The,stimulation of the plant by `an adventitious root-system is to be provoked. inducedhumidity and Warmth within the In the accompanying drawing Fig. l shows sleeve or Wrapper.` y i a sheet ofwvrapping paper, with a seal flap F Fig. l shows a suitablefwrapper with seal attached, suitable` for `use in snuglyI ivraping flap; i 1 y pingthe plant stock ,as described. Fig. `2 Fig. 2 shows a pineapple plant Without showszan iincovered pineapple slip or sucker 'vrappem A i i ini condition as usuallyhplanted as infant Fig'. illustrates the same' plant, with the `stock of a newplant individuahfrom which Wrapper; 1 it will be seen thatthe base or area `of the mf .die

n shown in Fig. 2.

off between them the area of the plant stock usual root system, marked Rand R is comparatively small and is evolved only from the extreme' base of the stock. i

` Fig. '8 shows the pineapple plant stock encased or wrapped and ready for insertion in `the ground to the depth marked by the clotted linekC-.Cfwlii'ch it will be noted-isfseveral inches above the dottedline-Be-B which Vmarks the usual planting depth of a pines. apple sucker or slip. The same dotted lines -B and C-C are extended across the' bare figure of a like pineapple sucker or slip, These dotted lines mark aste establish the primary root'system with its spread insoil ataY depth having `a more constant 'and even moisture and temperature ythanV obtainable nearer the surfaceof the grou-nd, the deeper root system inducing an early' developmentand sturdy growth and strength of the plant and rendering 1tmore Capablefofproducing larger and better fruit and-multiple crops. l

, rhe sleeve orwrapper will protect the imbedded tender portion of- 'the plantstock from decay- Orother injury by soil contact, whichy portion cannot Aordinarily be *subject- Y ed tothe effectof -soil Contact, and wilh by screening off the sunlight and' by affording natural humidity and warmth, ind-nce the c development upon this-*encased imbedded p portion of the plant stock, above its Yusual lroot system area, of an 'adventitious root system extending-several inches up and'down the plant stock, from Awhich the roots will tend 'torange' downward, rgii'f'ing them aV greater depth before spreadiz'ig. lfy the time :the advent-itionsA roots will haveV developed suticiently for projection the sleeve orwrapping will haveso distintegrated as to permit them to penetrate the wrapper and enter the surrounclingsoil. The plant will'- then have a combined or 'augmented root system considerably in excess of that obtainable bythe usual planting methods, which will induce a more vigorous growth and sturdy strength of the plant and render'itmo're capable of c produQing' larger and better fruit andmultiple crops.

. 'Since theroots stems ofweeds areA ordi- 'narily near the surfaceofthe ground, thel `deterrent effect of vweeds upon the growth yofa plant ordinarily greater when the plant roots are near the surface. By planting method hereindescribed the origipreferable although not indispensable.

I plant if allowed roots, until"theadditional root" system shall become weed-resistant, `so that the i usual retardation of plant growth by weeds where the roots are near the surface of the ground will be substantially or entirely eliminated.

By the. timethe upper root' system will have attained independent vigorl the natural outspreadof the ,Y plant above the ground will ordinarily due to the sturdier development of the usual root-system, have shaded out and overborne the V vigor of any weeds in *closeproximity. v y

The sleeve or wrappermay be impregnated Vor coated; with any desired forn'iulael gof fertilizing ingredients or insecticidalA or fungicidal substances, or it maybe used as a receptacle for the deposit and retention with-v in itself of any such ingredients or sub-v stances. Y In 'this' case amore loosely, laying of the4 wrapper aboutrthe plantstock will be preferable in order to leave suficient voids for receiving such ingredients. The projection of the sleeve or wrapperabovethesurfaceof theIk ground willvbettferfserveythis i purpose... These ingredients ore'substances,

by being thus. held in close andprotecterl proximity to the plantfwiil' not leach orV dry out orv becomegdissipated as readily-'as if ,openly exposed to wind or solar heat or lother action of the elements.- Theyimay; also be milder in composition or in more diluted formforY less inA quantity thanfif applied yto the surrounding soil.. VDeeper planting is It is therefore obvious that the use of the vsleeve or wrapper Afor any of these purposes will affordy a comparatively.maximum eiiieiency with a minimum waste of the ingredients or substances used7V and effect their purposes with a material'saving-of costin protect.- ing and stimulating the plant growth. The sleeve or wrapper', byfholdingpfertiliZing substances `in close proximityfto'tl'ie plant, will prevent them from contributing materially to weed stimulatio n.-v

It will also be noted thatby allowing the sleeve or-wrapper to` projectrwell above the surface of the ground, (C-,C,), as shown by Fig. 3, this projected portion of the sleeve or VWrapper will better'serve to'permit the application to the surrounding surface Asoil offertilizjers, insecticides or y fungicides of such strength as would be harmfultofthe therewith.

to come into direct contact I 1n soils containing humus material and` for such or any other reason apt to be sour, the sleeve or wrapperwill protect the additional root system of the plant from acidual effects which might otherwise have a dei terrent effect upon the plant, especially in the tender stage of development. j j

`/here strong treatment of the `surrounding soil may be necessary to correct or neu tralize acidity, sourness or harmful bacterial conditions, such treatment could be applied thereto without the same coming into direct contact with the plant within the protective sphere of the sleeve or wrapper, and with better effect if the sleeve or wrapper projects above the surface of the ground.

The sleeve or wrapper will also protect the upper root system from exposure through the possible removal of soil by actionof the elements, and it will also protect the plant itself from invasion by accretions of windblown or water-washed soil.

The sleeve or wrapper, bothabove and below the surface of the ground, will serve as an absorbent conservator of moisture,

while permitting any overfsaturation to drain i bedded portion.

through tothe lower root system, `and so contribute materially to the uniform growth and strength of the plant. It will further `inchice a natural warmth and humidity bene tici-al to the plant within the encased im- Although the foregoing description -of carrying out the method or process of using said invention is particularly .stated with -reference to pineapple plants, itis equally Vadaptable to the planting of other infant plant stocks in the form of slips, suckers, stalks, crowns or cuttings to be inserted 1n the ground, and I wish to be understood as claiming the invention in connection with any and all such plants.

l claim:

i `l. A method of enhancing plant growth the plant stock in an open-ended wrapper' in snug contact therewith, said wrapper covering only a localized area along the stock above the normal root-sysem area of the stock,and embedding the plant stock and wrapper in soil to a depth greater than that ofthe normal root-system area of the stock, whereby an artificial adventitious sub-.sur-

face rootsystem will be provoked `lin the w i,

shelter of the wrapper.

3 A method of enhancing plant growth and productivity which comprises encasing the plant stock in an open ended wrapper in snug contact therewith, said wrapper covj ering only a localized area along the stock above the normal root-system area of the stock, and enibedding the plant stock and j wrapper-in soil to a depth greater than that of the normal root-system area ofthe stock but insutlicient to completely bury the wrapper, whereby the plant is protected against deleterious influences on the surface of the soil and in the sub-surface region infested by weed roots.

4. A method of enhancing plant growth and productivity which comprises encasing the plant stock in a wrapper in snug contact therewith, said wrapper having open ends and extending above the normal root-system area of the plant stock, embedding the plant that of the normal root-system area of thc stock, leaving a portion of the wrapper projecting above the soil, and fertilizing the surrounding soil. to a degree which would be harmful to the plant in the absence of the wrapper.

5. A method of enhancing plant growth".

and productivity which comprises wrapping a portion only along the plantstock above its normal root-system area with a wrapper in snug contact with the stock and embedding the plant stock and at least a portion of the wrapper in soil.

6. A method of enhancing plant growth and productivity which comprises wrapping portion along the plant stock above its normal rootsystem area with paper' in snug contact with the stock, and planting the stock and wrapper in soil with a portion of the wrapper embedded in the soil as a protection against weed roots and a portion of the wrapper extending above the soil as a protection against. injurious surface conditions.

7. A method of enhancing plant growth and prinli'lctivity which comprises laying a wrapper about a portion of the plant stock `above and closely adjacent to the natural root-system area of the plant stock, and e1nbedding the plant stock in soil so that only part of the wrapped portion will project above the soil, whereby an artificial ad- `ventitious sub-surface .root-system will be provoked on the wrapped portion of the plant stock.

ALBERT HENRY TARLETON.

`stoclr and wrapper to a depth greater than i 

